brilliant flowers

I showed this photo recently at one of my presentations. In the back of the room, a little girl stood on a chair to see better. I understood; as a child growing up in Southern CA, I also was captivated by brilliant ice plant blooms. Those colors! As blindingly bright as ever a flower could [...]

Why are we so shy about color in our gardens? What's with all those pastels? Give me loud hues, fierce and bright. Like this pair of ice plants, which is anything but icy. Calendulas sizzle in my garden, their petals glossy orange. Velvety purple is eye-popping, too. This scorcher is Euphorbia tirucalli 'Sticks on Fire'. In case its [...]